Brain Drain within the ECOWAS Region

Abstract

The “Brain Drain” phenomenon has been characterized as the dramatic migration often permanently, of specialized human capital from developing to the technologically advanced countries of the world, particularly to the United States of America and Canada where there are better work facilities, and attractive remunerations for professionals such as physicians, surgeons, engineers, lawyers and others. Apart from these relative economic opportunities, the prevalence of political stability and freedom in the developed countries serves as an attractive force for the lamentable loss of intellectuals and professionals from the developing to the developed nations.

Political instability and economic growth: Evidence from two decades of transition in CEE

“…The major conclusion was that because of the negative impact of political instability, there are indirect consequences for most important growth factors such as savings or investment. Another strand of research, also related to indirect effects, was focused on the wellknown 'brain drain' effect (for example, Adebayo, 1985;Kwasi, 1992), which is the process of declining human capital caused mainly by political disorder.…”